Attachable runner for wagons



No. 618,063. Patented Ian. 24,. I899.

E. H. DE WITT. I

ATTACHABLE RUNNER FOR WAGONS.

(Application filed Apr. 20, 1898.)

(No Model.)

lhvrrno STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR II. DE IVITT, OF SUTTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHABLE RUNNER FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,063, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed April 20, 1898. Serial No. 678,217. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR H. DE \VITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sutton, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Attachable Runners for \Vagons, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of sleighrunners adapted for temporary attachment to wagons or wheeled vehicles when the wheels are removed; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination hereinafter specifically explained, the object being to provide an efficient, desirable, and convenient form of runner adapted for milk and bakery delivery-wagons and similar vehicles and to render the attachment and detachment of the runners quick, si1nple, and convenient. These objects I attain by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved runner. Fig. 2 is a half plan view showing the top of one runner and its attachments on a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation looking at the inner side of the runner. Fig. 4. is a vertical section through the pillow-block at the axle-seat. Fig. 5 shows a side and top view of the axle-seat cap. Fig. 6 shows a perspective of the angle-socketand its cap-plate, and Fig. 7 is a section of the cross-support at line a: m on Fig. 3.

Referring to parts, A denotes the foot of the runner, and B the bearer or connecting-beam joining the opposite runners in pairs. Said beam is supported from the runner by the upright and inclined posts 0 G 0 the heads of which are severally secured in a single socket-plate or casting D, connected with the beam B. Said posts are also braced in the manner shownat Z2 Z2 b E denotes the rave or top piece that connects the bearer B with the fore end of the runner, and F an angle-iron guard or fender.

G is the draftbar, to which the shafts or pole are attached by suitable irons at H, and It indicates a V-brace from said draft-bar to the central part of the bearer-beam, with a draft connection h at the rear end thereof for attaching direct to the wagon-body by a suitable strap or other link when desired.

The fender or guard F, which is preferably made of angle-iron, is disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane with the rave E and extends from the fore part of the runner outwardly inclined and rearward past the end of the bearer I), to which it is rigidly attached. About midway between the bearer and the fore end of the runner I arrange a slotted cross-piece or supporter J, the ends of which are respectively secured to the rave E and the fender-bar F, as indicated, the slot 3 in said cross-piece extending parallel with the bearer B. Mounted upon the bearer and cross-piece, I provide a long pillow-block I, having formed therein the transverse cavity or axle-seat t', which is best furnished with a metal lining m, consisting of a U-shaped plate having horizontal side wings, as shown in Fig. 4. The seat-cavity t is of a dimension that will receive the cylindrical part of the wagon axle tree. The fore end of the pillow-block I rests on the cross-piece J and is secured by a bolt f, that passes through the slot 8. (See Fig. 4.) The rear part rests upon the bearer B and is secured thereto by two similar bolts K, that pass through the pillow-block at front and rear of the axleseat and connect with a strap-plate K beneath the bearer. (See Figs. 1 and 4.) The pillow-blocks lie parallel with the runners and raves and can be adjusted laterally to accommodate different lengths of the wagonaxle by loosening the nuts on the bolts K and f and sliding the pillow-block on its supports.

The bolts K are made with short square necks n and shouldered to take hold on the lining plates m, thus affording space for the axle-retaining cap L beneath the heads 5 of said bolts, which project as overhanging studs in the manner shown in Fig. 4:.

The. axle-seat cap L is made, as shown in Fig. 5, with a flat plate portion adapted to fit upon the top of the pillow-block and span the cavity i and having an ontwardly-projecting portion L, the edges 6 of which are curved downward to serve as a roof or guard over the end of the wagon-axle where it projects beyond the side of the pillow-block. The end 7 of the cap is formed to fit the groove usually formed in the inner face of the axle-nut at, so that said cap may be secured by said nut. The cap-plate is provided near its inner edge with circular openings 25, adapted to pass over the bolt-heads or studs 5 and having recesses 1 therein, that fit the necks u of said studs, thereby adapting said cap-plate for interlock-, ing connection with the pillow or axle-seat by placing it over the studs 5 and then sliding it inward to its normal position and by a reverse movement for its disconnection. When in its normal position, the cap L is rendered absolutely secure by screwing the nut :13 against the outer end 7.

The socket or angle casting D is made, as shown in Figs. 1 and G, with upwardly-projecting flanges, a series of socket-recesses d, open at one side for receiving and supporting the heads of the posts 0 O 0 a fiat seat 9, with an extension-bracket 10 for sustaining the bearer B, and two upwardly-projecting flanges 12, that fit against the side surfaces of the bearer-beams and which are perforated for the attaching-bolts that pass through the parts, as shown. A cap-plate D is provided, that matches the face of the casting D and clamps the heads of the parts in the sockets. The posts are made somewhat wider than the sockets, so the plate presses on the wood and not on the metal casting when drawn down by the conneoting-bolts. The clamp-plate is made with a center space 8, that fits onto the extension 10, and with lips r, that look over the angles at the inclined sides of the socketcasting D, thereby insuring the maintenance of proper relation and rigidity between the socket-casting and its cap.

It will be understood that the construction of the runners and pillow-block for each side of the vehicle are similar, one being right and the other left hand in arrangement, and that the two are permanently connected by the bearer B. When employed for front-axle runners, the draft-bar G is used thereon; but for rear-axle runners said draft-bar is omitted and the rave is carried straight to the fore end of the runner. The height of the pillowblock is varied to correspond with the height of the front or rear axle, as required.

The operation of applying my improved runners to a wagon is very simple and quickly performed. The cap-plate L being first removed, the wheels of the wagon are taken off, the pair of runners placed thereunder, and the wh eel-bearings of the axletree XV dropped into the seat-cavities i on the pillow-blocks, said blocks being adjusted laterally to accommodate the particular length of axle. The cap-plates L are then looked onto the studs 5 and the axle-nuts m screwed onto the ends of the axletree against the outer ends 7 of the cap-plate L. The shift from the wheels to the runners, or vice versa, can thus be performed in a very few minutes of time.

I am aware that various different kinds of attachable runners for wagons have been heretofore devised and used. Hence I do not herein make claim, broadly, to such means; but my invention relates to the improved construction as herein specifically defined.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut- 1. The combination with the runner, the bearer, the rave and fender; of the slotted cross-piece fixed between said rave and fender, the long pillow-block extending parallel with the runner,andhaving the axle-seat cavity therein; said pillow-block supported at its rear part upon the bearer and at its fore end upon said slotted cross-piece, the connecting-bolts in said pillow-block, and the removable axle-retaining cap, substantially as set forth.

2. In an attachable runner for wagons, the combination,with the pillow-block having the axle-seat cavity therein, and the shouldered attaching-bolts, the top ends of which form projecting studs; of the removable cap-plate L having recessed openings therethrough and adapted for interlocking engagement with said projecting stud ends of said bolts, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with the runner, the bearer-beam, the rave, and the fender; of the pillow-block having the axle-seat cavity therein, the pillow-attaching bolts having the standing neck and overhanging head, and the axle-retaining cap-plate fitted with openings adapted for interlocking with the necks of said bolts by inward lateral movement, said cap-plate provided with the outwardly-projecting guard portion for extending over the axle-journal, the outer end thereof adapted for engagement by the axle-nut, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an attachable runner, the combination, with transversely-disposed bearer-beam B, and the series of upright and oppositelyinclined runner-posts O, O, 0 of the socketcastingD provided with the recesses cl,bearerseat 9, extension 10, the upwardly-projecting flanges 12, and the flat clamp-plate D having the central space 5, and provided on its inclined edges with lips 1', substantially as shown and described.

5. In an attachable runner for wagons, the combination, as described, with the runner, the transverse bearer-beam, the upright and inclined posts supporting said bearer, the rave and the fender-bar fixed to and connecting the bearer and fore end of the runner; of the transversely-disposed slotted cross-piece fixed to said rave and fender at mid-length thereof, the laterally-adjustable pillow-block tending from the bearer-beam to said crosspiece, and supported thereon, the clamping attaching-bolts passing through said pillowblock, the axle-retaining cap adapted as a guard over the axle end, and interlocking means for retaining said cap upon said pillowblock.

Vitness my hand this 18th day of April, 1898.

EDGAR H. DE XVITT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUs. 

